Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-07-07
DANGERS OF THE DEEP.


ASchooner Strikes Floating Hulk at Sea
Her Struggles to Keep Ahoat-A Timely
Rescue.
New YORK, June S0-The Anchor Line
steamer Italia, from the Mediterranean to-
DAY, landed Captain Burge and eight sea-
men OF the American schooner Joseph Bay
more, which was abandoned at sea in a sink
ing condition on the evening of the 18th
INST The schooner, with a cargo OF Ium-
Der, sailed from Georgetown, s. c., on June
6-oound to this city. The fine weather and
favorable breezes that carried her away
continued for six days. On the morning Of
the 18th, at three o'clock, while the vessel
was keeling over on the starboard tack,
with every bit of canvas aloft, she collided
with derelict craft, whose deck was float
! ing flush with the waters edge. The Bay
more took the wreck directly on the cutwa-
ter. The starDoard side of the schooner was
badly torn out, the bowsprit and head
'gear carried entirely away and the cutwa-
ter smashed. The water rushed into the
breach in great quantities, filling the hold
to depth of four feet and forcing the men
10 the pumps. In the excitement following
the collision several of the sailors became
panic-stricken, fearing that the vessel
would founder with all sails set. Captain
Burge had great difficulty in getting them
to return to work. They worked at the
pumps for several hours, while the captain
and mate examined the damage. 1t was
ascertained that the water was gaining, the
well at 1880 o'clock giving ~ feet.
In the hope Of reducing the leak, all sails
except the main iib were slowed away and
the vessel put of before the wind and sea,
which had increased since the collision;
but the water continued to flow freely into
the hold, and within an hour filled up to
the deck.
AT $50 O'Clock heavy sea struck the
vessel, nearly swamping her and washing
overheard the entire deck load. The big
sea was followed by several others, and the
wind increased to a whole gale With an
idea OF easing the injured craft the captain
ordered the sailors to leave the pumps and
set to work to cut away the mainmast and
rigging. With will all started forward
they being aft, near the saloon companion
way-but the seas that broke ON board
compelled them to halt and hold to the
parting bulwarkS for dear life. At ten
O'Clock the vessel was lurching and labor
ling so heavily that the captain believed she
could not hold together much longer. The
sea was threatening to wash all hands
overheard every minute, and the captain
ordered the men to lash themselves to the
fixtures Of the quarterback. This was done,
the men remaining awake all that night,
fearing to go forward to procure food or
water.
The 18th opened with the storm at it's
height, and although at that time several
three-masted vessels were in sight they
were too far to the eastward to be signaled.
Just as the sun was setting, and when the
men had given up all hope, the smoke of a
steamer was seen on the horizon. Two
hours afterward she came along, but
headed in such way that the sailors of
the schooner felt sure that those on board
would not see them. She was nearly
abreast four miles off to Windward, before
finally the sinking schooner was discovered.
Half an hour afterward she came within
hailing distance She proved to be the
British steamer Wydale from New Or
leans, with cotton for Rouen, France. Her
commander, Captain Hurst, soon had a
life-boat launched, and, after great risk,
managed to take the exhausted sailors off
the schooner. On the 2lst the Wydale
spoke the Italia, and the men being natives
of this city and Philadelphia, were trans
ferred to that vessel, landing here to-day.